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EDMONTON -- Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray swears that the thought of Willie Pile steaming toward him doesn't keep him up at night.

The Argos linebacker ended Ray's season in September last year when his hard, but clean, hit left Ray writhing with a separated shoulder.

"No revenge," Ray said. "I have been hit like that a million times and been able to get up from it. It was nothing dirty, just a part of football."

Ray has more pressing matters at hand. He was named the CFL's offensive player of the week after passing for 448 yards and three touchdowns against the Calgary Stampeders in Week 2, but he never has enjoyed much success against the Argos.

In eight games against Toronto, Ray has passed for just seven touchdowns. There would appear to be a better chance tonight that he gets into the end zone, given his penchant for big plays with receiver Jason Tucker and the Argos' collapse on defence last week versus Hamilton.

But the Argos usually defend against the pass well, and Edmonton's running game is not dangerous. Still, it could be a high-scoring night, as the Eskimos and Argos have allowed an average of 385 yards and 421 yards a game respectively, the highest numbers in the league.

"Every time we play them we feel like we have a good game plan, and we feel the same way this week," Ray said. "Toronto is not going to man up a lot. They are going to play some zone coverage and outnumber our receivers. We have to take our shots when they are there. I've had lots of yards against them, but not a lot of touchdowns."

That's a fact Argos head coach Rich Stubler knows well.

"I like our odds when people throw the ball down the field," Stubler said.

"Ricky is the best corner thrower in the league, but we have been successful against him, knock wood, in the past few years."

The Eskimos don't think the Argos will turn in the same lame effort they did a week ago against Hamilton. A man the Argos miss, all-star cornerback Jordan Younger, figured on facing a charged-up group of Argos tonight.

"They have not had much success, so I expect them to go back to the basics," said Younger, who spent four seasons with Toronto before he was dealt to Edmonton in February. "I don't expect bad back-to-back games from them."